Bedfordshire Police are appealing for witnesses to a “very distressing” convenience store robbery in Bedford, in which a staff member was in fear of his life.
On Sunday 5 January three offenders entered the store on Elstow Road and demanded the member of staff hand over bottles of alcohol from behind the till.
When the member of staff refused their request, two of the offenders jumped over the counter and started handing bottles to the third man, according to Bedfordshire Police.
Believing one of the offenders might be armed with a weapon, the staff member ran to safety in the back of the store. Before leaving the scene, they also stole vape liquids.
The offenders are described as white boys in their mid to late teens.
Detective Luke Williams, investigating, said: “This was a very distressing robbery for the staff member to be involved in. He was in genuine fear of his life.
“We’re urging any witnesses or anyone with information to come forward and help us catch the teenagers involved so we can bring them to justice.”
The first offender was wearing a grey hoodie, with a blue hoodie underneath, grey tracksuit bottoms with three black stripes down the side, and black trainers. The second was wearing a grey hoodie and blue tracksuit bottoms with a white stripe down the side, and black trainers. The third was wearing a grey hoodie, dark tracksuit bottoms, and black trainers.
Anyone with information should contact 101, or via the force’s online reporting centre, quoting reference 40/957/20.
Alternatively you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
Recent government figures revealed that the number of penalty notices issued for shop theft under £100 has declined by 95% over the past 10 years.
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